Lord's Diner drops plans for 21st and Grove

The Lord's Diner this afternoon withdrew a controversial proposal to open a satellite diner at 21st and Grove.

"Regrettably, over the past few months, we have reached an impasse in our efforts to move forward with a Lord's Diner in the northeast community," executive director Wendy Glick said in a prepared statement.

"Out of respect for those who have voiced concerns, we are withdrawing our proposal for a Lord's Diner at 21st and Grove."

She said the diner has no immediate plans to look elsewhere for a possible satellite location.

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After several months of study, the Lord's Diner tentatively agreed to rent the former Boys and Girls Club building at 21st and Grove from the city of Wichita for $15,000 a year. Under the plan, the diner would have had an option to buy the building for $150,000, minus any rent already paid.

The Wichita City Council was scheduled to take up the proposal Tuesday, but Glick said Catholic Diocese of Wichita officials today asked Mayor Carl Brewer to withdraw the item from the agenda.

Since plans to open a satellite location at 21st and Grove were announced, the diner has received an outpouring of opposition from those who thought it would detract from efforts they've made to improve the 21st Street corridor.

The Wichita Ministerial League, which represents about 25 predominantly African-American churches, held a meeting Thursday that drew more than 50 people, most of them adamantly opposed to the 21st Street plan.

Glick said concerns raised at that meeting, and in conversations with community leaders, convinced those who operate the diner to abandon the 21st Street plan.